Gunter Haibach  


Power For The People by Gunter Haibach

June 2022 - Power For The People

About the Image(s)

This is an Altered Reality image - the background is a somewhat manipulated shot from the Empire State Building in NY, and the foreground Hydro Lines are from near my neighbourhood. I attempted to make a Multiple Exposure image, outside the camera, using post processing tools. This is not a Composite, as I did no cutting/pasting - most of the effects made with Elements Blending Modes.
The story is to depict the idea of the massive and complicated power requirements for a large city like NY.
Your comments and suggestions would be very much appreciated


This round’s discussion is now closed!
12 comments posted




Steve Estill   Steve Estill
I think this image has real impact (almost said 'power').
I'd be interested to see the originals and some description of the blending modes you used.
The image is quite surreal and it tells the story you were looking for.
I prefer a point of focus, which this vaguely has. The lead lines of the pylons works to lead the eye into it, but I'd prefer something to be lead to.
It's a very effective image. Well done.   Posted: 06/03/2022 15:17:56
Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
Steve - thanks for your comments - attached find the 2 images. Unfortunately I don't remember the Blending Mode used - I find when considering a blending mode, I go though all of them to find the one I want to use - the effects are so dependent on the images, that for me this works the best. FYI also used Dodge/Burn quite a bit on this piece. POI - I'm a bit of a contrarist (not sure that's the word) - I think it should be called AOI - Area Of Interest. For me, often there is no Point, but an Area or even the whole image itself.   Posted: 06/13/2022 08:48:18
Comment Image
Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
  Posted: 06/13/2022 08:48:51
Comment Image



Brian Menzies   Brian Menzies
(Group 88)
Is it possible to warp up the distant power pylons or raise them so they connect into the "city". Adding just wires from the pylons into the city after you lift the pylons would also strengthen the connection.   Posted: 06/03/2022 22:59:40
Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
Thanks Bryan - not sure what you mean by 'warp'.   Posted: 06/13/2022 08:50:44



Jan Handman   Jan Handman
I love the graphic nature of this Gunter. The white crisscross lines of the electrical towers and the strong dark verticals of the city are so nice. I also like the way you lightened the lower middle to lead the viewer's eye into the image. I agree with Steve that it would strengthen the image to have something for the eye to settle on once we're led in; perhaps a bright light with rays radiating out in the lower area of one of the buildings?   Posted: 06/12/2022 17:34:44
Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
Jan - thanks for your comments. See my response to Steve - re:POI. For me, the area of interest is right in the middle of the picture. For me, rays radiating out in the lower area would not really fit in with my story, but thanks for the suggestion,   Posted: 06/13/2022 08:56:42



Brian Menzies   Brian Menzies
(Group 88)
Under Edit, you will find all the distortion tools. What I meant by warp was to make the power poles rise up in an small arc as they moved towards the city. Its a lot of work.   Posted: 06/14/2022 01:49:43



Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
Good job, Gunter, with the use of blend modes to combine the city buildings and the hydro lines. The V created by the hydro lines certainly brings you into the image. I do feel that the brightness of the hydro lines, especially as they near the point of the V, overpowers the darkness of the buildings. Maybe brightening the buildings or darkening the power lines would bring the image together better.   Posted: 06/18/2022 13:22:53



Jan Handman   Jan Handman
I love the graphic nature of this Gunter. The white crisscross lines of the electrical towers and the strong dark verticals of the city are so nice. I also like the way you lightened the lower middle to lead the viewer's eye into the image. I agree with Steve that it would strengthen the image to have something for the eye to settle on once we're led in; perhaps a bright light with rays radiating out in the lower area of one of the buildings?   Posted: 06/18/2022 16:02:14



Frans Gunterus   Frans Gunterus
Hi Gunter, Like Steve, I also want to see your original images especially the power lines. Obviously, you might have prepared taking power lines against the bright sky for easier separation. This image is a combination between imaginations and advance skill in PS. Awesome work Gunter.

  Posted: 06/27/2022 03:00:32



Gunter Haibach   Gunter Haibach
The 2 originals are shown under Steves comments. The white Hydro lines and towers were originally a colour image - I converted it to B&W, and reversed the result.   Posted: 06/27/2022 08:27:38